Missing Scots cat found 300 miles away in England after ‘going for a wander’

A Scottish cat, named Beans, was recently found 300 miles away in England after ‘going for a wander’. Beans, a ginger and white cat from Cumbernauld, went missing from his home towards the end of October after going out “as normal”. Owners Cara, 40, and Colin McBurnie, 51, searched the local area but with no luck. However, weeks later in November, they received a surprise call from Cats Protection, stating that thanks to his microchip, Beans had been found in Coventry.

Cara mentioned, “Beans loves to be outside and in gardens. He went out as normal because he likes to go for a wander but always comes home for some food, usually after a few hours. We searched and searched, looking everywhere. I’ve been out every day looking but thought something must have happened to him. I didn’t really expect to see him again, but joined lots of local lost and found Facebook pages, then further afield in Scotland. I didn’t think to look in England; I didn’t imagine he could have gone that far.”

Beans had actually ventured further than expected, somehow making his way to the West Midlands in England, where he was eventually spotted by Kelly Ryan. She noticed him hanging around her outdoor cat box and eventually realised he was staying around too much for it to be a coincidence. After posting about the cat on Facebook, Cats Protection got involved and scanned Beans for a microchip. When the chip was found, Beans’ owners were contacted, and they completed a 600-mile round trip to collect him.

Cara expressed her disbelief at Beans’ journey, stating, “I couldn’t believe it when Wendy told me, I was shocked out of (my) mind that he was still alive, and how he travelled over 300 miles. When we got him back, I let him out in the car for a cuddle then put him back in his carrier for the long journey. I’m so glad we had him microchipped and updated his record. There’s no way he’d have come back to us otherwise.”

It remains a mystery how Beans managed to travel such a distance, but the incident highlights the importance of microchipping pets. Madison Rogers of Cats Protection mentioned, “It’s a real testament to the power of the microchip that Beans could be reunited with his owners just 24 hours after being scanned. Without a chip, it’s unlikely Beans would ever have found his way back to the family who love him so much.”

Pets going missing and being reunited with their owners make heartwarming stories that resonate with many animal lovers. The power of microchipping in reuniting lost pets with their families cannot be overstated. Beans’ incredible journey serves as a reminder to pet owners everywhere to ensure their furry companions are microchipped and their information is up to date. No matter how far they roam, there is always hope for a happy reunion.